For Immediate Release:                                        Contact:  Communications Office

September 13, 2013                                                                  (518) 388-3415

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BALLSTON LAKE, N.Y. – Amy Rhoades, 50, of Ballston Lake, Saratoga County won a $1,000,000 Powerball prize from the August 24, 2013 drawing.

The day of the Powerball drawing, Saturday, August 24, Rhoades was on her way home in the evening and decided to stop at the Stewart’s Shop in Ballston Lake to check a Lottery ticket she had purchased previously. It was not a winner. She said she had $3 left in her pocket and decided to buy a Powerball ticket for that evening’s drawing and a Mega Millions ticket for the August 27 drawing.

Rhoades works as a nurse at a local hospital. On her way into work early on Sunday morning, she stopped at the same Stewart’s Shop to buy a soda and check her ticket. When the clerk behind the counter scanned her ticket she said to Rhoades, “You won big!” Rhoades said she asked her, “How big?” and the clerk said, “I think you won one million dollars!” 

Rhoades said she couldn’t believe it and left the store quickly because she didn’t want to be late for work. When she got home that evening, she checked her ticket online, and that’s when it started to sink in that she really was a Lottery millionaire. 

Rhoades said her plans for the money include paying some bills and helping her children with their student loans.

Rhoades purchased her Powerball ticket at Stewart’s Shops at 16 Round Lake Road and Ruhle Road in Ballston Lake. She claimed her prize on August 26 at the Lottery’s Schenectady Customer Service Center.

Rhoades will receive her $1,000,000 Powerball prize in one lump sum totaling $661,800 after required withholdings. The winning numbers for the August 24 Powerball drawing were 12-17-25-45-59 and Powerball 19.

Rhoades is New York State’s 100^th Lottery millionaire in 2013.

The New York Lottery contributed $35,667,002.26 in Lottery Aid To Education to school districts throughout Saratoga County during fiscal year 2012-13. 

About the New York Lottery

The New York Lottery continues to be North America’s largest and most profitable Lottery, contributing $3.04 billion in fiscal year 2012-2013 to help support education in New York State.  The Lottery’s contribution represents 15 percent of total state education aid to local school districts. 

New York Lottery revenue is distributed to local school districts by the same statutory formula used to distribute other state aid to education.  It takes into account both a school district’s size and its income level; larger, lower-income school districts receive proportionately larger shares of Lottery school funding.

About the New York State Gaming Commission

The New York State Gaming Commission regulates all aspects of gaming and gambling activity in the state, including horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, class III Indian gaming, video lottery terminal facilities at race tracks, the state lottery and charitable gaming.